Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-03-25

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Alexandria, Ia.
Entered at The Posto0fce al Alexandria, Virginia, as
sccOnd-cl0SS matter
NJ. l.. Church South VS.. NE. e. Church.
From the Baltimore American.
There is mucn talk among the Methodist
clergy and laity of this city regarding the
controversy now being carried on in the
columns OF the Eastern ITirgiaiaa published
in Onancock, Va. and the Richmond
Christian Adgocate. The controversialists
are Rev c. a. Grice, of the NJ. T. Church,
and Rev. Joseph Il. Amiss, Of the n. E.
Church South. The attention OF Methodists
in this city was called to the matter By the
publication Of an outline Of the controversy
in the american Of Saturday
The main cause of the dispute, as stated
in the american Of Saturday, arises from the
alleged encroachment OF the II. Z. Church
on the territory Of the Southern Methodists.
The first article in the Tirginian was called
out by communication from Mr.. Amiss,
published in the Richmond Christian AdC0
cate, stating that the Southern people should
be made aware of the fact that the n. e.
Church was Totally ignoring The pro-
visions of the Cape Nay Commission
and the plan of separation, and
have become wonderfully active and aggres.
sive OF late" He further made the state
Il, l.; .lo 7
occupies the South more to day for the pur-
pose of making votes for the republican par
ty, and &c establish negro equality than 10
make Christians of the people,
Mr. Amiss, in q letter which appeared in
last weeks Iirginian, says "The North
ern Methodist Church since the war has or.
sanized in the South about twenty Eve al
nual conferences, and stationed one Of its
bishops at Chattanooga: Tenn, and another
at New Orleans 10 superintend the crusade
against the Southern Church aud people.
The rebellion was put down at The point OF
the bayonet, and now the Church South
must be conquered by the 'disintegretion,
absorption and assimilation mode of war.
fare. Our church might have gone into the
Northern States since the war, under the
pretext that many Of the people there were
sadly destitute of the Gospel-well nigh
heathen-and set up competition with the
Northern Church on its own territory, pro-
ducing neighborhood broils, heart burnings
and discord, Just as that church has done in
the South. But we could not consent 10 be
truce breakers. Our sense of honor and
Christian integrity would not allow it,
II is the same old quarrel that has been
cropping out from time TO time ever since
the separation, and is regarded by many OF
the clergy here as merely q local matter, of
which no cognizance wli be taken. 1t
would seem 10 show, though. that these two
branches OF Common stock are as wide
apart now as they we're forty-three years
ago on the question of slavery. The original
cause of separation was on the right OF Bish-
op Andrew, of Georgia, 10 hold slaves. The
slaves were the property of his wife, whose
ownership OF them antedated their mar
rage The Methodist Church took strong
grounds against slavery and demanded of
Bishop Andrew their manumission. He
contended that they belonged to his wife
and not to him. and also, that he had no
right, under the laws of Georgia, to manu-
nit them At the same time be expressed
his willingness to sign any legal paper, if it
could be done, relieving himself from the
responsibility. This was at the General
Conference at Albany, New York, 1914.
The Southern delegates refused to assent to
any auch action on his part. The confer
ence then passed a resolution prohibiting
Bishop Andrew from exercising his func-
tions as bishop. The Southern delegates
seeded
DR.. S. K. Cox, pastor Of st. Paul's NJ. E.
Church South, said ne thought that the
fight in Virginia was merely local, and
should not be taken notice Of by the church
at large. He, however, said it was very
has strictly adhered to the rules laid down,
the Northern Church has repeatedly broken
the rules, and encroached on the Southern
territory The Southern Church has grown
with more rapidity than any other Christ
ian organization. In twenty years it has
increased lis membership from 100000 TO
100000, there being last year over $4,000
new members. The Methodist Church
North has been sending its secretaries and
ministers through the South ostensibly to
preach the gospel to the colored people,
Now it is known that the colored people
have their own ministers, and do not allow
white ministers as their pastors, and 1t is
also known that the ministers so sent South
receive liberia! salaries, and are sustained
by the funds of their general church, as
their congregations are small and poor.
DR.. w. X Boyle, editor of the Episcopal
Methodist, said he would not like to express
an opinion. but as Christian man, it was
very humiiating to him. He said, as all
Christian churches represent the same car
dinai principles, they should maintain
friendly relations.